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Garster’s Dream jig

Also known as Garster’s Dream, Garsters Dream.

There are 11 recordings of this tune.

This tune has been recorded together with Da Brig (lots of times), Da Fields O’ Foula (a few times) and Da Foula Reel (a few times).

Garster’s Dream has been added to 5 tune sets.

Garster's Dream has been added to 63 tunebooks.

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Two settings

1
X: 1
T: Garster's Dream
R: jig
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
|:G2 B BGB|cdc BAG|FGA ABA|AdB AFD|
G2 B BGB|cdc BAG|F2 E DEF|1 G3 G2 D:|2 G3 G2 d||
|:gag gdB|ABA AGE|gag gdB|ded def|
gag gdB|AcB AGE|G2 E DEF|1 G3 G2 d:|2 G3 G3||
2
X: 2
T: Garster's Dream
R: jig
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
G2 B BGE | EGE BGE | F2 A AFD | DFD AFD |
G2 B BGE | EGE BGE | F2 A DEF | G3 G3 : ||
ggg gdB | AFA AFD | ggg gfe | dBd dBd |
ggg gdB | AFA AFD | GFE DEF | G3 G3 : ||

Seven comments

Popular Shetland jig

This is a very popular Shetland jig. I was looking at the track list for the Blazing Fiddles "Fire On" CD and realised that the tune wasn’t here. So, I’ve rectified the situation.

"Returning from a wedding on the island of Fetlar which lies in the north of the Shetland island group and to the east of the Isle of Yell, Garster overheard this tune coming from a hole in the ground. The only explanation that he could give was that the music must have been made by the trows, the island’s version of Scandinavian trolls. However, local cynics reckoned that Garster had fallen asleep and dreamt the tune"

Notes from Hom Bru album "Obadeea"

Gremlins?

For some reason, this isn’t appearing on the tune list. Is there a change in the system; ie the sheet music has to be added first? Or just something odd(apart from me 🙂 )at my end?

Garster’s Dream, X:2

This version of the tune comes from "The Fiddle in Scottish Culture" by Katherine Campbell (now out of print). 2nd half somehow makes me think of trows having a giggle?

Re: Garster’s Dream

Version 1 is the one published in Da Mirrie Dancers by Shetland Folk Society, and is the version I played with the Forty Fiddlers way back in the 60s. I’ve never come across the second version.

Re: Garster’s Dream

As commented, Katherine Campbell included the second setting in her book along with the tale of Garster’s
adventure with the trows and this setting was the first I came across. Later I discovered that the first setting is
much better known. Still, to have 2 versions is no bad thing and both are interesting I think.

Re: Garster’s Dream

Never read Katherine’s Book although met her years ago in Shetland when she was researching it. The background story was taken from Da Mirrie Dancers.

Re: Garster’s Dream

Katherine’s out of print book is now rare and hugely expensive. Pity. Interesting chapters eg about wedding
traditions and the fiddle, playing fiddle and singing at the same time, and lastly about the trows (the one that
includes the 2nd setting of Garster’s Dream). Interesting pictures and 50 tunes included. Why not reissue
the book at normal price if it is now so desirable? Speculative nastiness.